Difference between revisions of "CPC iRAM"
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[[File:Iram640.jpeg|thumbnail]] | [[File:Iram640.jpeg|thumbnail]] | ||
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| − | CPC iRAM is a series of open source, DIY friendly, internal RAM expansions for the CPC 6128 (later hopefully also for the | + | CPC iRAM is a series of open source, DIY friendly, internal RAM expansions for the CPC 6128 and CPC 464/664 (later hopefully also for the Plus/GX4000). |
The iRAM expansion sits in the CPU socket and requires no additional soldering inside the CPC. | The iRAM expansion sits in the CPU socket and requires no additional soldering inside the CPC. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Compatibility == | ||
| + | |||
| + | So far no incompatibilities have been reported. | ||
The first 512K of expansion RAM follow the [[Standard_Memory_Expansions#Standard_128K-512K_Expansions_.28dk.27tronics.2Fdobbertin-style.29|DK'Tronics addressing mode standard]], giving up to 576K of RAM to legacy software. More modern software that supports the [[Standard_Memory_Expansions#Extended_1M-4M_Expansions_.28RAM7.2FYarek-style.29|extended 1M-4M standard]] will be able to access all the provided RAM. | The first 512K of expansion RAM follow the [[Standard_Memory_Expansions#Standard_128K-512K_Expansions_.28dk.27tronics.2Fdobbertin-style.29|DK'Tronics addressing mode standard]], giving up to 576K of RAM to legacy software. More modern software that supports the [[Standard_Memory_Expansions#Extended_1M-4M_Expansions_.28RAM7.2FYarek-style.29|extended 1M-4M standard]] will be able to access all the provided RAM. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Unlike other RAM expansions the iRAM can be used in parallel to an external RAM expansion. The iRAM has priority over external RAM expansions and only requests above the iRAM memory limit will be passed to an external RAM expansion. External memory expansions that are smaller than the iRAM will be ignored. This is particularly helpful for external feature-expansions that also provide a RAM expansion. Those expansions usually cannot be connected in parallel to another (bigger) RAM expansion. E.g. DDI-5/6, ULIFAC and Pico CPC limit the CPC to the RAM provided by those expansions. A great use case is to put the ULIFAC in ROM board mode which replaces the full or parts of the expanded RAM with ROM slots - but with the iRAM installed the CPC still has access to the full RAM provided by the iRAM. | ||
== released == | == released == | ||
| − | === CPC iRAM/640 === | + | === CPC 6128 - iRAM/640 === |
| + | |||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Iram640.jpeg|iRAM/640 | ||
| + | Iram640 builtin.jpeg|iRAM/640 built-in | ||
| + | Iram640ramtest.jpeg|RAM Test | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
* for CPC 6128 only | * for CPC 6128 only | ||
| Line 21: | Line 32: | ||
Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-640 | Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-640 | ||
| − | |||
| − | === CPC iRAM/1088 === | + | === CPC 6128 - iRAM/1088 === |
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | iRAM1088.jpg|iRAM/1088 for CPC 6128 | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
* for CPC 6128 only | * for CPC 6128 only | ||
| Line 31: | Line 46: | ||
* perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered. | * perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered. | ||
| − | Status: | + | Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-1088 |
| − | === CPC iRAM/1024 === | + | == currently in development == |
| + | |||
| + | === CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024 === | ||
| + | |||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | iRAM1024.jpg|iRAM/1024 for CPC 464/664 | ||
| + | iRAM1024symbos.jpg|SymbOS on CPC 464 | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
* for CPC 464 and 664 | * for CPC 464 and 664 | ||
| Line 43: | Line 65: | ||
* easy to assemble, all through-hole components | * easy to assemble, all through-hole components | ||
| − | Status: | + | Status: Finished, final PCB design will be tested, will be released in late 2025 |
| + | |||
| + | == considered == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === PLUS iRAM/1024 === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 1Mb upgrade for Plus series | ||
| + | * less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Status: very early stage, still considering if it's feasible | ||
| + | |||
| + | === GX iRAM/512 === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 512K upgrade for GX4000 | ||
| + | * less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Status: just an idea | ||
| + | |||
| + | == abandoned == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === CPC 6128 - iRAM/640s === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * minified iRAM/640 | ||
| + | * for CPC 6128 | ||
| + | * size just a tiny bit bigger than Z80 CPU socket | ||
| + | * TSSOP SMD components below Z80 | ||
| + | * requires good soldering skills and special tools to program SMD CPLDs | ||
| + | |||
| + | Status: fully designed, abandoned as it offers no advantage over DIY friendly version and would only benefit commercial sellers | ||
| + | (Hint: Lotharek offers a similar expansion commercially for a good price) | ||
| + | |||
| + | === CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024s === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * smaller than iRAM/1024, more similar in size to iRAM/640 | ||
| + | * for CPC 464 and 664 | ||
| + | * single 1MB SMD SRAM, upgrade to 1024K | ||
| + | * [http://norecess.cpcscene.net/advancedmemoryusage.html C3 RAM banking] supported | ||
| + | * easy to assemble, mostly through-hole components but one SMD SRAM | ||
| − | + | Status: working prototype | |
| − | === CPC iRAM/576 === | + | === CPC 6128 - iRAM/576 === |
* for CPC 6128 only | * for CPC 6128 only | ||
| Line 56: | Line 115: | ||
Status: Abandoned in favor of the iRAM/640 which uses the exact same components but offers more total memory. | Status: Abandoned in favor of the iRAM/640 which uses the exact same components but offers more total memory. | ||
| − | === CPC iRAM/512 === | + | === CPC 464/664 - iRAM/512 === |
* for CPC 464/664 | * for CPC 464/664 | ||
Latest revision as of 05:31, 20 October 2025
CPC iRAM is a series of open source, DIY friendly, internal RAM expansions for the CPC 6128 and CPC 464/664 (later hopefully also for the Plus/GX4000).
The iRAM expansion sits in the CPU socket and requires no additional soldering inside the CPC.
Contents
Compatibility
So far no incompatibilities have been reported.
The first 512K of expansion RAM follow the DK'Tronics addressing mode standard, giving up to 576K of RAM to legacy software. More modern software that supports the extended 1M-4M standard will be able to access all the provided RAM.
Unlike other RAM expansions the iRAM can be used in parallel to an external RAM expansion. The iRAM has priority over external RAM expansions and only requests above the iRAM memory limit will be passed to an external RAM expansion. External memory expansions that are smaller than the iRAM will be ignored. This is particularly helpful for external feature-expansions that also provide a RAM expansion. Those expansions usually cannot be connected in parallel to another (bigger) RAM expansion. E.g. DDI-5/6, ULIFAC and Pico CPC limit the CPC to the RAM provided by those expansions. A great use case is to put the ULIFAC in ROM board mode which replaces the full or parts of the expanded RAM with ROM slots - but with the iRAM installed the CPC still has access to the full RAM provided by the iRAM.
released
CPC 6128 - iRAM/640
iRAM/640
iRAM/640 built-in
RAM Test
- for CPC 6128 only
- 512K expansion
- total accessible RAM of 640K in a 6128 (64K Base RAM + 512K RAM expansion + 64K secondary RAM bank of the 6128)
- easy to assemble, all through-hole components
- perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered.
Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-640
CPC 6128 - iRAM/1088
iRAM/1088 for CPC 6128
- for CPC 6128 only
- 1024K expansion
- total accessible RAM of 1088K in a 6128 (64K Base RAM + 1024K RAM expansion)
- easy to assemble, but SRAMs are in SMD packaging (SOP32) due to size constraints in the CPC 6128
- perfectly fits into a CPC 6128, even with socketed ROM or RAM. In Schneider CPC 6128 the metal shielding needs to be removed or altered.
Status: Released - see https://github.com/etomuc/CPC6128_iRAM-1088
currently in development
CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024
iRAM/1024 for CPC 464/664
SymbOS on CPC 464
- for CPC 464 and 664
- offers two sockets for SRAMs
- upgrade to 576K (1 SRAM) or 640K/1024K (2 SRAMS)
- first SRAM: Upgrade to 576K, following the DK'Tronics standard without support of C3 mode (like many other RAM expansions)
- second SRAM: upgrade to 1024K (512K SRAM) or optionally also 640K (128K SRAM)
- C3 RAM banking supported if both SRAMs are fitted
- easy to assemble, all through-hole components
Status: Finished, final PCB design will be tested, will be released in late 2025
considered
PLUS iRAM/1024
- 1Mb upgrade for Plus series
- less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504)
Status: very early stage, still considering if it's feasible
GX iRAM/512
- 512K upgrade for GX4000
- less DIY friendly, probably needs more complex CPLDs (ATF1504)
Status: just an idea
abandoned
CPC 6128 - iRAM/640s
- minified iRAM/640
- for CPC 6128
- size just a tiny bit bigger than Z80 CPU socket
- TSSOP SMD components below Z80
- requires good soldering skills and special tools to program SMD CPLDs
Status: fully designed, abandoned as it offers no advantage over DIY friendly version and would only benefit commercial sellers (Hint: Lotharek offers a similar expansion commercially for a good price)
CPC 464/664 - iRAM/1024s
- smaller than iRAM/1024, more similar in size to iRAM/640
- for CPC 464 and 664
- single 1MB SMD SRAM, upgrade to 1024K
- C3 RAM banking supported
- easy to assemble, mostly through-hole components but one SMD SRAM
Status: working prototype
CPC 6128 - iRAM/576
- for CPC 6128 only
- 512K expansion
- total accessible RAM of 576K in a 6128 (following the DK'Tronics standard)
- easy to assemble, all through-hole components
Status: Abandoned in favor of the iRAM/640 which uses the exact same components but offers more total memory.
CPC 464/664 - iRAM/512
- for CPC 464/664
- 512K expansion
- total accessible RAM of 512K in a CPC, following the DK'Tronics standard and support of C3 mode.
- or 576K without C3 support (512K_C3 / 576K selection per manual switch)
- easy to assemble, all through-hole components
Status: Abandoned as CPC iRAM/1024 will fit into all 464s/664s and is more flexible
